An Unexpected Guest

Chapter Six: An Unexpected Guest

It's a quiet Saturday afternoon, and the soft light filters through the curtains in the living room. I'm sitting on the couch with a bowl of popcorn on my lap, staring blankly at the TV. Noah sits next to me, his gaze fixed intently on the screen. The show is nothing more than background noise. I can feel the space between us filled with things unsaid.

I glance at Noah, who looks relaxed, but his expression gives away that he's not fully here with me. I wish I could understand what's going through his mind. It’s strange because the closer you are to someone—and we are—the more removed you can sometimes feel.

I nibble on a piece of popcorn, trying to focus on the show, but my mind eventually wanders. I find myself speculating about Noah's past. I really don’t know anything about him; what’s between us is just boss and worker before all these contracts.

Suddenly, the front door bursts open, and my head jerks up in surprise. A woman walks in, catching my attention right away. At first, I think she might be Noah's sister because of the way she carries herself, with long hair cascading over her shoulders. I stare at her for a moment.

Noah's gaze whips to her, and his face changes. "Marianne? Why are you here? Who allowed you in?" he exclaims, startled.

"Who wouldn't let a senator's daughter inside their house?" she replies, her voice soft but teasing, as she strolls into the living room with the casual assurance of someone who belongs.

I frown. Senator's daughter? Why is she here? Who is she? A twisted feeling of curiosity and jealousy starts to grow inside me. I lean forward slightly, trying to get a better look at her.

Noah sits up, his demeanor shifting. "What are you doing here in my place? You should be at the senator's house," he says, his tone firm.

"I just thought I'd drop by and see how you've been," she replies, stepping closer. I can feel the way she looks at him, her eyes glinting with something I can’t quite place.

Noah shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "You shouldn't just show up unannounced," he says, irritation creeping into his voice.

"Why not? It's not like you have plans," she retorts, smirking at me before turning back to him. "And who's this? Your new girlfriend?"

I feel a flush of embarrassment rise up my neck. "I'm Rachel," I say, trying to keep my voice steady. "And I'm not his girlfriend."

Marianne chuckles, clearly delighted. "Oh, I see. So you're not the one he's chosen after all."

Noah doesn't respond; he just stares at her, and I watch frustration rise in his face. "Marianne, I really don't think this is a good time," he says finally.

"Why not? I came to see my favorite person. You remember all the good times we had, right?" she says, attempting to draw him in with her soft, sweet tone.

I can feel the tension in the room escalating. "You two must have shared a lot," I say, keeping my voice light. "It sounds like you had fun together."

Marianne turns her full attention to Noah, ignoring me. "Come on, Noah. Let's not pretend there isn't still something here between us. I know you miss it."

He shifts uncomfortably again, clearly annoyed. "That was a long time ago. Things are different now."

"Different?" she asks, stepping closer, her voice a sultry whisper. "Or just… more complicated?"

I can't help but feel a mix of curiosity and unease. This isn't the warm, inviting afternoon I imagined. Instead, it’s quickly turning into a game of one-upmanship, and I’m not sure how to play.

"Seriously, Noah," I pipe up, needing desperately to shift the subject now. "You should at least tell her what's going on. It's only fair."

He turns to look at me, then back at Marianne, annoyance clouding his gaze. "It's not any of her business."

Marianne smirks, crossing her arms. "Oh, but I think it is. I mean, I'd like to know what my competition looks like. Don't you think you should say something?"

Noah just shakes his head; his face is tight. "I don't owe you an explanation."

"Come on, Noah, I'm just trying to understand. Who is she to you?" she presses, turning to look at me.

I feel the color rise to my cheeks as I glance over at Noah, silently begging him to say something, but he stares at the TV, refusing to engage with her.

"She's not important," he mutters finally, dismissing me into a realm of nonexistence.

Marianne laughs lightly, but her eyes flash with annoyance. "Not important? You don't mean that." She turns to me, the gleam back in her eye. "You're really just a fling, aren't you?"

I bite my lip, feeling small under her gaze. "No, that's not—"

"Rachel, it's okay," Noah cuts in, his voice flat. "You don't need to defend yourself."

I feel my heart sink at his utter lack of concern. I want to fight back—to prove I’m more than some temporary distraction—but my words get caught in my throat.

Marianne steps closer to Noah, her smile wide and inviting. "You know, we could have a lot of fun together. Just like old times." She leans into him slightly, her hand brushing his arm.

"No," he says sharply, pulling away. "I'm not interested."

"But why not? We had chemistry, Noah. We could—"

"I said no," he repeats firmly.

Marianne pauses, taken aback by his rejection. There's a flicker of frustration in her eyes, but she soon masks it with a smile. "Alright, but you can't blame me for trying. It's just hard to let go of something good."

I watch them, puzzled and irritated. Why won’t she give up? Why isn't Noah making her stop?

"Look, I really don't think this is the right time," Noah tries again, sharper this time.

Marianne tilts her head to the side and feigns serious contemplation over what he says. "Perhaps you're just in need of a little reminder, and I'm not here to mess this up for you. I just want to have a little fun and see what happens."

"Fun?" Noah growls abruptly, clearly irritated. "I don't want that anymore."

She shrugs, uncaring. "You don't know what you want. You're holding onto the past, Noah."

He suddenly stands up, frustration boiling over. "I'm not holding on to anything! Just leave it alone, Marianne."

She stands her ground, crossing her arms. "I won't, not until you admit that you miss me."

I can feel my heart pounding as the crackle of tension fills the air. I'm just sitting here, watching this drama unfold. "Noah, perhaps you could say something," I encourage, desperation rising in my voice.

He turns to me, his eyes flashing with annoyance. "Rachel, I'm dealing with this."

"But you're not," I retort, frustration bubbling over. "You're just letting her take over."

Marianne turns to me, a smile tugging at her lips. "Isn't that cute? How does she think she has a say in this?"

I grind my teeth, anger consuming me. I scream silently, wanting to be heard. I'm not some distraction. I demand Noah acknowledge me, to defend our space.

But instead, I sit there, lost.

“Listen, Marianne, this isn't your place," Noah finally says, his voice low but firm. "You can't just waltz in here and expect things to be the same.”

Her smile falters, and for a moment, I think she might turn and leave. But then she shakes her head, and her expression morphs back into a confident smirk. "I'm not going anywhere, Noah. You can't just push me away like that. I'll always be part of your life."

I feel the tension hanging thick in the air, choking me. I turn to Noah, searching for at least a glimpse that yes, he does care, but he remains standing there, staring at Marianne with a mixed expression on his face.

I scream inside. Even if we don’t love anyone, he shouldn’t do this to me, not in the presence of a lady who just barged in. But no, I just wait silently for this uncomfortable moment to pass.

“Marianne, you need to go," Noah finally says, his voice cold.

"Maybe, but not before admitting that I mean something to you still," she replies, unbending.

I look at them both numbly, caught in some game that isn't mine. I'm desperate to be seen, to have worth. But right now, there's no chance.

I let out a shaky breath; this has given me more reasons to consider going back to my ex, Elvis. Someone who has always valued me and would place me over anyone.